Men&#39;s undergarment

ABSTRACT

A men&#39;s undergarment having an opening in the front panel of the undergarment body thereof and a cover panel fastened to the undergarment body, the cover panel having top and bottom ends respectively fixedly fastened to waistband and crotch of the undergarment body and two opposite lateral sides maintained free from the undergarment body such that the cover panel defines with the undergarment body a penis receiving space and a scrotum receiving space for receiving the user&#39;s penis and scrotum respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention provides an undergarment for men and, moreparticularly, to such a men's undergarment that is good for the healthof the user's genitals.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] The outer genitals of a man include the penis and the scrotum.Normally, the penis and the scrotum are suspended from the lower frontside of the abdomen. The skin of the penis is normally disposed incontact with the skin of the scrotum. The skin of the scrotum isnormally disposed in contact with the groin. Because the penis ismaintained in close contact with the scrotum and the scrotum ismaintained in close contact with the groin, the ventilation around thegenitals is poor, and the ambient temperature around the genitals isgenerally high. It is not hygienic to keep the temperature and moisturearound the genitals high.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 3,207,155 shows a man's undergarment that keeps thescrotum out of touch with the groin. However, the penis is stillmaintained in close contact with the scrotum. U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,793,entitled “ERGONOMICALLY ENGINEERED UNDERWEAR”, provides a space insidethe undergarment for the genitals. However, this design does not stopthe penis from contacting the scrotum and the scrotum from contactingthe groin.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,799, entitled “UNDERGARMENT WITH A TESTICLEPOUCH AND GENITAL SPACE”, prevents direct contact of the skin of thepenis with the skin of the scrotum and direct contact of the skin of thescrotum with the groin. However, this design is complicated, resultingin inconvenience of use and high manufacturing cost. Further, the coverpanel according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,799 cannot hold the genitalspositively and comfortably in place. When moving, the penis tends to beforced out of the cover panel.

[0007] “MAIL UNDERGARMENT” of U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,496 keeps the scrotumaway from the groin; however it lets the penis contact the scrotum.

[0008] “MEN'S UNDERWEAR BRIEFS” of U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,587 and “MEN'SUNDERPANTS” of U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,517 prevent contact between a publicregion and a thigh while there is a wide space to enclose the pubicregion during the use. When the user stands up, the genitals may be wellreceived in the receiving chamber. However, when the user lies on a bedor sit on a seat, the genitals may be forced out of the receivingchamber. Further, the user may feel uncomfortable when moving after thegenitals received in the receiving chamber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention has been accomplished to provide a men'sundergarment, which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. It is the mainobject of the present invention to provide a men's undergarment, whichprevents contact between the penis and the scrotum and contact betweenthe scrotum and the thighs. It is another object of the presentinvention to provide a men's undergarment, which is comfortable in use.It is still another object of the present invention to provide a men'sundergarment, which keeps good ventilation around the genitals. Toachieve these and other objects of the present invention, the men'sundergarment comprises an undergarment body, and a cover panel. Theunder undergarment body comprises a front panel, a back panel, awaistband, and a crotch, and two leg holes. The front panel has anopening. The cover panel has top and bottom ends respectively fixedlyfastened to the waistband and the crotch, and two opposite lateral sidesmaintained free from the undergarment body. The cover panel defines withthe front panel a penis receiving space above the opening of the frontpanel, and a scrotum receiving space below the opening of the frontpanel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a plain view of a men's undergarment according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention before installation of thecover panel.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a front view of a cover panel for the men's undergarmentaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a front view of the first embodiment of the presentinvention after installation of the cover panel in the undergarmentbody.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the first embodiment of thepresent invention, showing the genitals received in the penis receivingspace and the scrotum receiving space.

[0014]FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

[0015]FIG. 6 is an extended out view of the cover panel for the men'sundergarment according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0016]FIG. 7 is a front view of the men's undergarment according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 8 is a sectional view, in an enlarged scale, taken along line8-8 of FIG. 7.

[0018]FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing of the second embodiment of thepresent invention, showing the men's undergarment put on the body of theuser.

[0019]FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

[0020]FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, a men's undergarment in accordance with thepresent invention is shown comprised of an undergarment body 10 and acover panel. The undergarment body 10 comprises a front panel 11, a backpanel 12 (see FIG. 5), a waistband 13, and a crotch 14, defining two legholes 15 and 15′. The front panel 11 has an opening 16 corresponding tothe genitals. The cover panel is made of a piece of elastic, ventilatingcloth (cotton cloth or spandex-contained meshed cloth), having top andbottom ends respectively fixedly fastened to the waistband 13 and thecrotch 14. The two opposite lateral sides of the cover panel are opensides not fastened to the undergarment body 10. When installed, thecover panel defines with the front panel 11 of the undergarment body 10a penis receiving space and the crotch 14 a scrotum receiving space.

[0022] FIGS. 2˜5 show the first embodiment of the present invention. Asillustrated, the cover panel 20 is an elongated piece of cloth, having abottom center pleat 22 longitudinally upwardly extended from the bottomend thereof and two smoothly arched side flaps 21 and 21′ symmetricallyformed integral with two opposite lateral sides thereof near the bottomend. When fastened to the undergarment body 10, the upper part of thecover panel 20 defines with the undergarment body 10 a penis receivingspace 23 above the opening 16 (see also FIG. 1) for receiving the user'spenis, and the side flaps 21 and 21′ define with the undergarment body10 a scrotum receiving space 24 below the opening 16 for receiving theuser's scrotum. Further, because of the effect of the bottom centerpleat 22, the lower part of the cover panel 20 protrudes forwards fromthe undergarment body 10, forming a three-dimensional status. Further,the border areas of the side flaps 21 and 21′ are respectively stitchedto the undergarment body 10, forming stitched lines 31 and 31′ that holdthe cover panel 20 in the center position against biasing.

[0023] FIGS. 6˜11 show a men's undergarment according to the secondembodiment of the present invention. According to this alternate form,the cover panel 40 has a longitudinal center axis 45, two first creases46 and 46′ bilaterally equally spaced from the longitudinal center axis45 at distance L1;L2 (L1=L2) and arranged in parallel, and two secondcreases 48 and 48′ bilaterally equally spaced from the first creases 46and 46′ at distance L3;L4 (L3=L4) and arranged in parallel. Thelongitudinally extended middle part of the cover panel 40 forms a frontcover portion 47 between the first creases 46 and 46′. The part of thecover panel 40 between the first creases 46 and 46′ and the secondcreases 48 and 48′ forms two parallel side cover portions 49 and 49′.The part of the cover panel 40 beyond the second creases 48 and 48′forms two back flap portions 42 and 42′. The two side cover portions 49and 49′ are folded backwards along the first creases 46 and 46′ andreceived at the back side of the front cover portion 47, and then theback flap portions 42 and 42′ are folded forwards along the secondcreases 48 and 48′ and received at the back sides of the side coverportions 49 and 49′, and then the upper part of the second creases 48and 48′ are stitched together, forming a stitched line 50. The top andbottom ends of the well-folded cover panel 40 are then respectivelystitched to the waistband 13 and crotch 14 of the undergarment body 10.In order to reinforce the positioning of the cover panel 40, the backflap portions 42 and 42′ and the side cover portions 49 and 49′ arepulled bilaterally outwards, and then the back flap portions 42 and 42′are respectively stitched to the peripheral edges of the leg holes 15and 15′ by stitches 31 and 31′.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, 9, 10 and 11, when the undergarment puton the user's body, the undergarment body 10 and the cover panel 20 or40 are stretched outwards into a three-dimensional status. At this time,the elastic material property of the cover panel 20 or 40 producescomponents of force F in direction toward the imaginary straight line Lbetween the waistband and the crotch, keeping the cover panel 20 or 40closely attached to the lower part of the user's abdomen.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, when the undergarment of the firstembodiment of the present invention put on the user's body, the user'spenis and scrotum are extended out of the undergarment body 10 throughthe opening 16, keeping the scrotum received in the scrotum receivingspace 24 and the penis received in the penis receiving space 23. Whenthe user adjusted the undergarment to the best fit position, the coverpanel 20 is forced by its elastic material property to cover the penisand to secure the penis to the inside of the penis receiving space 23.At the same time, the cover panel 20 supports the scrotum in the scrotumreceiving space 24. When wishing to urinate, the user can directly pullthe penis sideways to the outside of the penis receiving space 23.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 9˜11, when the undergarment of the secondembodiment of the present invention put on the user's body, the user'spenis and scrotum are extended out of the undergarment body 10 throughthe opening 16, keeping the penis extended upwards and received in thetubular penis receiving space 53 defined between the front panel 11 ofthe undergarment body 10 and the front cover portion 47 and side coverportions 49 and 49′ of the cover panel 40, and the scrotum received inthe bag-like scrotum receiving space 54 defined between the front panel11 of the undergarment body 10 and the cover panel 40 below the opening16. Further, the side cover portions 49 and 49′ and back flap portions42 and 42′ of the cover panel 40 are gradually downwardly extended fromthe stitched line 50 toward two opposite lateral sides, showing athree-dimensional profile shaped like a water drop.

[0027] The elastic material property and the effect of the stitched line50 cause the side cover portions 49 and 49′ to hold the user's penispositively in the penis receiving space 53 in vertical, preventing theuser's penis from falling to the outside of the cover panel 40. Becausethe three-dimensional profile of the cover panel 40 is shaped like awater drop, the cover panel 40 effectively covers and supports theuser's scrotum. Further, because the two opposite lateral sides of thecover panel 40 are not fastened to the undergarment body 10, atransverse air passageway is defined between the front panel 11 of theundergarment body 10 and the cover panel 40 for ventilation when theuser sitting on a seat or the like.

[0028] The length of the stitched line 50 helps define the variation ofthe width of the cover panel 40, i.e., the water drop-likethree-dimensional becomes relatively shorter when the stitched line 50relatively prolonged, or relatively longer when the stitched line 50relatively shortened. The length of the stitched line 50 is determinedsubject to the size and style of the undergarment. Basically, the waterdrop-like three-dimensional profile of the cover panel 40 fits thegenitals of a matured man.

[0029] The aforesaid cover panels 20 and 40 provide the following commonadvantages:

[0030] 1. The cover panel 20 or 40 can be made of ventilating or meshedelastic cloth material different from the undergarment body 10,achieving a satisfactory ventilation effect.

[0031] 2. The top and bottom ends of the cover panel 20 or 40 arerespectively fixedly fastened to the undergarment body 10, defining athree-dimensional space for holding the user's genitals comfortably inplace outside the undergarment body 10 and keeping the user's genitalsfrom sight.

[0032] 3. The penis receiving space 23 or 53 and the scrotum receivingspace 24 or 54 prevent direct contact between the penis and the scrotum.Further, the cover panel 20 or 40 around the scrotum receiving space 24or 54 supports the user's scrotum, preventing direct contact between thescrotum and the groin. Therefore, the men's undergarment keeps goodventilation around the user's genitals.

[0033] 4. The cover panel 20 or 40 supports the scrotum comfortablywithout giving pressure to the scrotum.

[0034] 5. When the penis erected in the morning, the scrotum receivingspace 23 or 53 allows the penis to extend freely without constraint,keeping goof blood circulation in the genitals.

[0035] 6. The undergarment comfortably holds and supports the genitalsin place, and movement or posture change of the user does not cause thegenitals to extend to the outside of the cover panel 20 or 40. The coverpanel 20 or 40 automatically adjusts the genitals to the mostcomfortable position when the user changed the posture.

[0036] 7. Because the men's undergarment is of simple and friendlydesign and, not expensive to manufacture, it is high acceptable toconsumers.

[0037] In additional to the aforesaid advantages, the second embodimentof the present invention provides the following additional advantages:

[0038] 1. When put on the body of the user, the front cover portion 47,side cover portions 49 and 49′ and back flap portions 42 and 42′ of thecover panel 40 do not protrude downwards or bilaterally outwards. Whenfolded up and received or hung on a high place, the undergarment is keptin a smooth and neat status. Therefore, the undergarment can be directlyhung on a garment hanger in a sales center for exhibition without theuse of a three-dimensional model.

[0039] 2. The smooth cover panel 40 enables the undergarment to beconveniently smoothly folded up and packed in a packing bag or the like.

[0040] 3. The stitched line 50 causes the cover panel 40 to show a waterdrop-like profile for holding and supporting the genitals comfortably.

[0041] 4. Because the length of the stitched line 50 determines thevariation of the width of the cover panel 40, the maker can easilydefine the size of the genitals receiving space.

[0042] A prototype of men's undergarment has been constructed with thefeatures of FIGS. 1˜11. The men's undergarment functions smoothly toprovide all of the features discussed earlier.

[0043] Although particular embodiments of the invention have beendescribed in detail for purposes of illustration, various modificationsand enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited exceptas by the appended claims.

What the invention claimed is:
 1. A men's undergarment comprising anundergarment body, said under undergarment body comprising a frontpanel, a back panel, a waistband, and a crotch, and two leg holes, saidfront panel having an opening, wherein a cover panel is provided havingtop and bottom ends thereof respectively fixedly fastened to saidwaistband and said crotch, and two opposite lateral sides maintainedfree from said undergarment body, said cover panel defining with saidfront panel a penis receiving space above said opening of said frontpanel and a scrotum receiving space below said opening of said frontpanel.
 2. The men's undergarment as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidcover panel is made of a piece of elastic ventilating cloth.
 3. Themen's undergarment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover panel ismade of meshed piece of elastic cloth.
 4. The men's undergarment asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said cover panel has an upper part, whichdefines with said undergarment body said penis receiving space, and twosmoothly arched side flaps symmetrically bilaterally formed integralwith a lower part thereof and defining with said undergarment body saidscrotum receiving space.
 5. The men's undergarment as claimed in claim4, wherein said arched side flaps each have an outer portionrespectively fixedly fastened to said undergarment body.
 6. The men'sundergarment as claimed in claim 5, wherein the outer portion of each ofsaid arched side flap is respectively stitched to said undergarmentbody, forming a respective stitched line.
 7. The men's undergarment asclaimed in claim 4, wherein said cover panel has a bottom center pleatlongitudinally upwardly extended from the bottom end to a middle partbetween said smoothly arched side flaps.
 8. The men's undergarment asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said cover panel has a longitudinal centeraxis, two first creases spaced from said longitudinal center axis at twosides and arranged in parallel, and two second creases spaced from saidfirst creases at two sides and arranged in parallel, a front coverportion defined between said first creases, two parallel side coverportions respectively defined between said first creases and said secondcreases, and two back flap portions defined outside said second creases,said two side cover portions being folded backwards along said firstcreases and received at a back side of said front cover portion, saidback flap portions being folded forwards along said second creases andreceived behind said cover portions.
 9. The men's undergarment asclaimed in claim 8, wherein said first creases are bilaterally spacedfrom said longitudinal center axis at an equal distance.
 10. The men'sundergarment as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second creases arerespectively spaced from said first creases at an equal distance. 11.The men's undergarment as claimed in claim 8, wherein said secondcreases are disposed at positions relatively closer to said undergarmentbody in comparison with said longitudinal center axis.
 12. The men'sundergarment as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second creases have arespective upper part stitched together, forming a stitched line. 13.The men's undergarment as claimed in claim 8, wherein said side coverportions and said back flap portions of said cover panel define withsaid undergarment body said scrotum receiving space.
 14. The men'sundergarment as claimed in claim 13, wherein said penis receiving spaceis defined between said cover panel and said undergarment body abovesaid scrotum receiving space.
 15. The men's undergarment as claimed inclaim 13, wherein said back flap portions are respectively stitched tothe periphery of said leg holes by stitches.
 16. The men's undergarmentas claimed in claim 14, wherein said back flap portions are respectivelystitched to the periphery of said leg holes by stitches.